IELTS WRITING TASK 2

by Mat Clark

 Topic 1: Increasing travels between countries enable people to learn

different cultures or to increase tension between people from
different countries?

Globalisation is a catch-all term that refers to any activity that involves

more than one country, for example, travel from one country to another. The
dramatic increase in transnational travel in recent years has sparked
controversy over the potential impacts of this trend on individual countries,
especially those new member states of globalisation. Some people are
concerned that the upsurge in new arrivals will promote local hostility against
visitors, instead of promoting their understanding on mutual cultural
background. This notion should be rejected as one can see many facts in
favour of this development between countries.
The first reason why international travels would never bring conflict is
rooted in the fact that both visitors and locals are economically motivated.
International travel opens up opportunities for business development
throughout the world. Entrepreneurs are interested not only in the domestic
market but also in the oversea market. Foreigners should learn the culture of a
country before whining over the local people. In turn, locals should show their
hospitality to visitors in exchange for their trust. They share a view that
acceptance of each other’s cultural background is a necessary condition for
cooperation.
Understanding a culture has other implications. Differences in social
background, cultural values and religious belief might make the discrepancy
of foreigners and local inhabitants on some issues indelible; however, the
higher interaction, the higher level of communication and understanding.
Arabians, for example, used to consider westerners as their foes. Now they
have concrete relations with their western allies in many fields. In the initial
stage, their divergence seemed inherent but over time, with better mutual
understanding, they take the same position on many issues.
Undeniably, it is likely that in some resorts, foreign visitors repel the local
community with their scant regard for the local environment and conventions
when they first arrive. However, it should be noted that most offense is
accidental, rather than intentional. Instead, visitors disobey rules and
conventions simply because they have no knowledge of them. This situation
is expected to be improved with the passing of time when visitors from
different countries increase their knowledge of a local culture.
According to the above analysis, we can observe that the increase in the
international travel should not be taken as the cause of any conflict that arises
between two countries. Alternatively, one should recognize its role in
improving mutual understanding between two countries.
No Part of
Word/Phrase Meaning
. speech
catch-all=all-embracing
1 N tổng quát
 catch-all term
2 transnational Adj xuyên quốc gia
3 spark controversy over nổ ra tranh cãi về
4 upsurge [in/of sth] N sự tăng lên đột ngột
hostility [to/towards sb/sth]
hành vi thù địch/không
5 =enmity=resentment N
thân thiện
>< hospitality
6 notion [of/about sth] N quan điểm, ý kiến
rooted in
7 V bắt nguồn từ
=derived from=based on
có cơ động về mặt kinh
8 (be) economically motivated
tế
entrepreneur
9 N doanh nhân
=tycoon=mogul=industrialist
10 whine [that…] V than phiền
11 in turn đổi lại, do đó, đến lượt
12 in exchange for đổi lấy
Kết quả có thể xảy ra
implication [of sth for sth] của 1 hành động, hàm ý,
13 N
/[of sb in sth] nhiều ý nghĩa, dính vào
(bê bối)
discrepancy [in sth/between]
14 =disagreement=difference N sự bất đồng
=divergence
15 indelible=permanent Adj khó xóa nhòa
16 foe=enemy=rival N kẻ thù
concrete=tangible=solid
mật thiết, vững chắc/dựa
17  concrete relation Adj
trên sự thật
 concrete proof/evidence
18 ally N đồng minh
inherent [in sb/sth]
19 Adj cố hữu, vốn có
=intrinsic
over time=in due course
20 =sooner or later theo thời gian
=with the passing of time
 21 undeniably=indisputably Adv không thể phủ nhận
resort
 tourist/holiday/beach
khu nghỉ dưỡng
22 resort N
 điểm du lịch
 scenic spot
 place of interest
23 repel [sb/sth]=revolt=repulse V đẩy lùi, bài xích
hiếm, rất ít
scant=limited=scarce
24 Adj  không quan tâm
 with scant regard for
đến
convention
25 N quy ước, tục lệ
 by convention
26 offense N hành vi vi phạm/phạm tội
27 accidental=unintentional Adj vô ý, không có kế hoạch
28 intentional=deliberate=intended Adi cố ý
29 alternatively Adv một cách khác/ngoài ra
30 arise [out of/from]=occur V phát sinh, xảy ra

 Topic 2: When international media (including movies, fashion

shows, advertisements and other TV programmes) convey the
same messages to the global audience, people argue that the
expansion of international media has negative impacts on cultural
diversity. What is your opinion?

As international media companies expand across the world, the growing

popularity and uniformity of some media programmes (such as TV shows,
movies, fashion shows) is causing worldwide concern. Many people have
strong views toward this trend. In my opinion, international media is closely
linked to cultural globalisation and cultural homogeniety.
The dominance of intemational media is a sign of Western cultural
imperialism and has the potential to thwart cultural diversity. It is not a secret
that international media is owned and operated by a handful of giant
corporations, such as Time Warner. They control large sectors of the media
market and place national media companies at risk. The contraction in the
number of media owners will cause a proportional reduction in the variety of
programmes broadcasted. For example, painting, music and movies
accessible in the media have a small number of genres, imposing restraints
on one's knowledge of artworks of different cultural backgrounds.
In addition to seizing control over those creative industries, global
entertainment companies affect cultural diversity by reshaping the
perceptions, beliefs and norms of ordinary citizens in different countries.
Most of the cultural values and ideals promoted by the leading mainstream
media are of American origin. American culture values individuality,
maximisation of one's benefits and material wealth, rather than communal life
and family solidarity, the values and norms previously treasured in many
Asian countries. Unfortunately, many Asian people now imitate American
people, causing the alteration of their perceptions of family. This radical
change can be attributed to those movies and TV programmes that portray
the success of American individuals or corporations.
The loss of media diversity is also responsible for people's narrow sense of
ways of life. The ruling class of many countries speaks English, favours
Western food, wears Western-style jackets and even prefers Western
weddings. Young people are captivated by American basketball and some
even daubing the names of NBA stars on their school sweatsuits. All these
transformations in life are the result of the audience's exposure to Hollywood
movies, TV shows and sports reports. The loss of media diversity will lead to
degradation of culture and to a minimisation of cultural diversity. It is a
worrying trend, as people need cultural diversity to preserve and pass on their
valuable heritage to future generations, including lifestyle.
As shown above, international media, controlled by a handful of
transnational media corporations, is exporting Western culture worldwide and
putting many indigenous cultures at the risk of extinction. The uniformity of
media programmes has led to that of artworks, norms and ways of life
wherever international media goes.
No Part of
Word/Phrase Meaning
. speech
media
 international media
 news media
 digital media
1 N phương tiện truyền thông
 mainstream media
 in the media
 media coverage
 media program
đồng nhất, giống nhau,
2 uniformity [of sth] N
đều
(danh từ) lo ngại, sự/mối
concern
quan tâm (mong muốn hỗ
 concern [about/over/for
trợ/cái gì quan trọng),
sb/sth]/[to sb] (N)
3 N/V trách nhiệm, công
 concern [sb/sth]/[itself
ty/doanh nghiệp
with sth]/[yourself
(động từ) ảnh hưởng, liên
with/about sth] (V)
quan, lo ngại, quan tâm
4 (be) closely linked to có liên kết chặt chẽ tới
5 homogeneity N tính đồng/thuần nhất
dominance [of sth]
=domination=power
6 N sự thống trị, quyền lực
 achieve/assert/establish
dominance over sb/sth
sign [of (doing) sb/sth]/[for
sth]
7 N dấu hiệu, cảnh báo
=symbol=mark
=signal=indication
8 imperialism N chủ nghĩa đế quốc
thwart
[sth]=prevent=spoil=ruin
9 V cản trở
=frustrate
 be thwarted in sth
sự đa dạng

 đa dạng và hòa
diversity=variety
nhập (mang lại cơ
10  great/wide/rich diversity N
hội bình đẳng cho
 diversity and inclusion
những người thuộc
nhóm các dân tộc
thiểu sổ)
a handful [of sb/sth]=a small
11 1 số ít
number of
place (formal than ‘put’)
12 V đặt, bày tỏ (thái độ),
 place sth at risk
contraction [in sth]=reduction
13 N sự co lại
><expansion
14 proportional=relative Adj tỷ lệ (tương quan)
(danh từ) chương trình
15 broadcast [sth] (V) N/V (động từ) phát (tin), thông
báo
accessible [to
16 Adj có thể truy cập, hiểu
sb]><inaccessible
impose [sth/yourself on/upon
sb/sth]
17  impose V ra (luật…), áp đặt
restrictions/restraints/
constraints/obligations
seize [sb/sth (from sb)]=grab
 seize control of
18  seize a chance/an V nắm, bắt, kiểm soát…
opportunity/ the
initiative…
 perception=view=opinion
ý tưởng, nhận thức, cái
19 =insight N
nhìn sâu sắc
 visual perception
norm (the norm)=rule hành vi thông thường,
20 N
 social/cultural norms chuẩn mực
(danh từ) lý tưởng, sự
ideal [(of sth)] (N)
hoàn hảo
21 =value=belief=principle N/Adj
(tính từ) hoàn hảo (viển
 ideal for sb/sth (V)
vông, không thực)
(danh từ) quan điểm
mainstream
thông thường/thường
(the mainstream) (N)
tình/chính thống, đầu vào
 mainstream culture/politics/
(tính từ) được xem là
22 economists/journalists/ N/Adj/V
chính thống
press/media (Adj)
(động từ) làm cho chính
 mainstream [sth] (V)
thống/được chấp nhận
(bởi mọi người)
value [sb/sth as/for sth]
23  be valued at sth V giá trị, đánh giá
 get sth valued
24 individuality N tính cá nhân
25 material wealth N của cải vật chất
(thuộc) cộng đồng, chia
26 communal=shared Adj
sẻ
solidarity [with sb]=unity
sự đoàn kết, đoàn thể, hài
27 =harmony=cohesion N
hòa, gắn kết
 express/show solidarity
28 imitate [sb/sth]=mimic V bắt chước, sao chép
alteration [to/in sth] sự thay đổi (để tạo nên
29 N
 major/minor alteration khác biệt)
radical=basic=far-reaching
30  radical changes Adj căn bản/căn nguyên, mới
 radical (=new) ideas
(danh từ) thuộc tính,
tượng trưng
attribute
31 N/V (động từ) đổ cho, được
 attribute [sth to sb/sth]
cho là (hậu quả, trách
nhiệm…)
portray [sb/sth (as sb/sth)]
32 V vẽ, miêu tả
=depict=represent
33 sense [of sth] (N) N/V (danh từ) ý thức, hiểu,
 in the sense of sth đánh giá về, ý nghĩa, giác
 in a sense (=in one way) quan, cảm giác, trạng thái
 sense [sth/sb (do/doing (động từ) nhận thức, cảm
sth)] (V) nhận/khám phá (máy
 móc)
34 ruling class N giai cấp thống trị
captivate=enchant
 be captivated (by sth)
=be obsessed with
35 =be passionate about V thu hút/quyến rũ
=be addicted to
=be keen on
=be enthusiastic about
daub [A with B]/[B on A]/
36 V tô/sơn
[sth+Adv/Prep]
transformation [(from sth)
(to/into sth)]
37 N sự biến đổi
 undergo a
transformation
sự tiếp xúc/phơi nhiễm
(độc hại), phơi bày (bản
exposure [to sth]
38 N chất), bàn luận (TV,
=publicity (media…)
truyền thông), trải nghiệm
(mới), sự nhiễm lạnh
39 degradation N sự suy thoái
40 pass on=give=impart=convey V truyền lại
valuable [to sb/sth]
quý giá, rất hữu
41 =invaluable=priceless Adj
dụng/quan trọng
><valueless=worthless
(thuộc) bản địa, địa
42 indigenous [to sth]=native Adj
phương